Roger Federer became visibly emotional Saturday as his wife, Mirka Federer, inducted him into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport, Rhode Island. Mirka Federer's speech focused on her husband's character off the court, bringing Federer and many in the audience to tears.
Mirka Federer recounted their first meeting at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games when she was 21 and he was 18. At that time, Federer had no ATP titles, a detail she used to underscore their shared journey. She recalled the moment they learned they were expecting twins, and Roger Federer's immediate response to prioritize family.
"Without missing a beat, he said, ‘I won’t play anymore,'" Mirka Federer stated. "He wasn’t being remanded. He meant it. That’s who Roger is. His family comes first."
She described how they navigated life with two sets of twins, making the tennis tour their home and ensuring their children, Myla, Charlene, Leo, and Lenny, knew him as a present father. Mirka Federer emphasized his continued dedication to his children, reading bedtime stories and playing with them regardless of his schedule.
"I know him always as the kind husband, funny, thoughtful, and endlessly supportive," she said. "His parents know him as a loving son. His sister knows him as a wonderful brother. And his friends know him as someone who always has time for them, no matter how busy his life becomes."
Federer, who retired in 2022, became eligible for the Hall of Fame this year. Upon taking the stage, he hugged and kissed his wife, acknowledging the emotional impact of her words. He described the situation as "such a mess" and joked about needing "tissues and sunglasses."
"Mirka is my wife, which is the greatest understatement I can make," Federer said during his acceptance speech. He also credited her as his "hitting partner before matches, and my reality check, also my stylist."
Federer expressed gratitude for her influence on his career and personal life, stating, "Mirka is the person who showed me how to get more focused about tennis and take joy in everything else. A wonderful mother to our four kids. She and I grab each other’s hands and we run through walls. So she’s all of these things, and that’s my Hall of Fame."
Prior to the induction ceremony, Federer participated in the U.S. Open's Fan Week, playing an exhibition match against Andy Roddick and engaging in doubles play with Andre Agassi and John McEnroe. 
